Imagination

Imagination allows us to pick up a weirdly shaped yellow pepper and "see" a pirate lurking in it.   In this case, Sam's imagination prompted him to make his idea a reality by adding the right props, as you can see.  

Vegetables actually provide a lot of "scope for the imagination," to quote Anne with an "e."   When I was cleaning our potatoes, I found one that was the spittin' image of a bare hiney.  Now why didn't I get a picture of that?  Probably a subconscious sense of modesty kept me from making a permanent record.   However, I did get a picture of these carroty friends sharing a sweet embrace (I can almost imagine that it is a joyful reunion after a long separation, or perhaps a last hug before one has to leave the other for an extended time).

I propose this definition:  Imagination is a function of creation: it is the means by which we create new ideas, for better or for worse, from that which we see and know in the real world.  Why on earth did God give us imaginations?  For certainly imagination has its dark side as well - those of you who have imagined fearful and dark things in the future, or who have created harmful fantasy images know of which I speak.  As far as I know, the Bible doesn't say much about our imaginations...or does it?  It is said "...we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ," and Paul's injunction to the Philippians is to let their minds dwell on those things which are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellent or worthy of praise.  Thinking creatures must imagine.  Our imaginations will either be sanctified or sullied; true or tainted; whimsical or warped.   Thank God for your imagination and then ask Him to make it like His.   He came to make all things new.